Daily News - International - U.S. Team - Media - Releases
One - Two - PR3 - Four - Five - Six - Seven - Eight

Oshkosh, WI - A unique training program recently implemented, was designed by the U.S. Aerobatic Foundation (USAF) to provide the pilots of the 1996 U.S. Aerobatic Team the opportunity to train individually with some of the premier aerobatic trainers/critiquers in the world. These sessions will be in addition to their traditional group practice camps. The goal was for this team to arrive better prepared than any previous U.S. Team to meet the international competition at the World Aerobatic Championships (WAC).

The Foundation earmarked funds in its 1996 budget for each pilot to use specifically for individual training with a recognized and qualified trainer of his or her choice, with the approval of the USAF Board and U.S. Team Trainer/Delegate John Morrissey. A list of approved coaches compiled by the Board includes: John Morrissey, Sergei Boriak, Alan Geringer, Bill McIntyre, Don Taylor, Clint McHenry, Vitas LaPenas, Victor Smolen, Elena Klimovich, Xavier de Lapparent, and Dominique Roland. Other equivalently qualified trainers may be contracted with the approval of the Board.

Pilots are responsible for setting up their training sessions with their selected coach, designed to fit their personal needs and schedules. A guideline of specific issues to be considered in the training sessions will be authored by Morrissey, and a summary report will be submitted to him by the trainer/critiquer following each session.

The USAF Board of Directors, working in conjunction with Morrissey, developed the innovative program. The Foundation's stated objective was to provide scheduling flexibility and financial incentive to team pilots to report to the Team Trainer/Delegate in the spring with perfected individual technique, a developed and tested individual Freestyle, critiqued exposure to both the Freestyle and the Known Compulsory sequences, and determination and execution of any necessary modifications or maintenance to their aircraft.

According to Morrissey, "We don't have a national team with pilots who do nothing else but fly aerobatics. We cannot schedule group practice camps throughout the year as other countries can because our pilots also have careers to maintain. In order to provide more proficiency training prior to the main training sessions in the spring and summer, the individual training program was devised to ensure we get to those camps with pilots who already have some first-class coaching under their belts and aircraft which will meet the demands of Unlimited level aerobatics."

Foundation President Paul Erdmann said, "We are very pleased with the potential of this new approach. Already, training sessions have been scheduled by several team pilots with the 1994 World Aerobatic Champion, Xavier de Lapparent of France. Not only will our pilots have access to coaches who fly the European style of aerobatics, but they will also participate in customizing their own training programs from the time of their selection as a team member in September until they arrive at the first group session in the spring. We feel this flexible training program, in addition to what has typically been available to past U.S. Teams, will be an excellent investment in enhancing our chances for bringing home the trophies in 1996."

The XVIII WAC is set for August 18 - 30, 1996, at Clarence E. Page Airport near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. This is the first time since 1980 that the WAC has been hosted by the United States. The only other times it was held in North America were in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, in 1980, and in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, in 1988. Expectations are that about 80 pilots from some 20 countries will compete.

The Shell Oil Company, makers of Aeroshell aviation lubricants, is the major corporate sponsor of the U.S. Aerobatic Team. However, the team effort is heavily dependent upon the private donations of aviation enthusiast. Contributions in support of the U.S. Aerobatic Team may be directed to: U.S. Aerobatic Team, P.O. Box 3086, Oshkosh, WI 54903-3086.

Design: Recursive Arts - Mailto: webmaster - Build Date: Sat, Aug 24, 1996